The first time I ever cruised, I noticed how small the on board pools were and the fact that there was NO WAY 2-4k passengers could be accommodated by them. They were always packed like sardines and never looked at all tempting as a result. Since then, I have found other ships have equally small pools and the same problem with overcrowding. Hence, I have never once even bothered to go to the pool area - not even to try to get a lounge chair to lay out. Who wants to fight the crowds and chair hogs? Am I the only one who LIKES pools but avoids them on cruise ships??

The first time I ever cruised, I noticed how small the on board pools were and the fact that there was NO WAY 2-4k passengers could be accommodated by them. They were always packed like sardines and never looked at all tempting as a result. Since then, I have found other ships have equally small pools and the same problem with overcrowding. Hence, I have never once even bothered to go to the pool area - not even to try to get a lounge chair to lay out. Who wants to fight the crowds and chair hogs? Am I the only one who LIKES pools but avoids them on cruise ships??

Actually I don't like pools on ships or at anyones house for that matter...instead of laying at the pool I would rather sit in the Library and read a good book or magazine that I brought with me or sit on the Veranda. I always booked a Veranda on all cruises...the Crystal cruise in december will be no different.

I think that RCCL pools are larger than Carnival's overall. The smaller RCCL class ships probably have the largest pool areas per pax. There are two large side by side pools on the Lido of the Monarch for example. In the photo there is another pool just as large behind the one you see.

I was pleasantly suprised at the pools on both Freedom class and the Oasis class, two pools side by side along with a special pool area for the little ones. Another added plus is they are all fresh water and not salt water...They were rarely too full of swimmers.

Call me crazy, but, I have never been around a pool that was overly crowded. I have discovered that aft pools are usually much more peaceful, with most ammenities back there as well. I first discoverd them on the Conquest.

I was pleasantly suprised at the pools on both Freedom class and the Oasis class, two pools side by side along with a special pool area for the little ones. Another added plus is they are all fresh water and not salt water...They were rarely too full of swimmers.

I agree with you100%. The pools on those ships are great, and I also did not find them crowded at all.

On my next cruise I will be going on the Oasis for the second time. I will be using those pools again.

I don't find the pools themselves being overcrowded, except ones that allow kids. It is the area around the pools that are crowded, especially the pool were the band is playing or there are activies. If I cannot find a lounge chair on the pool deck, I usually can on the deck above overlooking the pool.

One of the 1st things I do on a ship is look for a pool that restricts kids and will frequent that pool doing the cruise.

O F C'er

__________________Experiences over the years enabled me to have all the answers, but not necessarily corresponding with your questions.

I agree OFC. I think all cruise ships should have one adult pool. One of my biggest disappointments with the new Carnival Magic is that it does NOT have one. As I like to point out, "the Disney Magic has more Adult pools than the Carnival Magic".

Yes I am on a campaign to get Carnival to make the aft pool an adult pool on the Magic, but alas it looks like it may be going the other way. Looks like they will be opening all the adult pools in the fleet to kids. Bad move IMHO.

Princess ships have the Sanctuary pools. You do NOT have to pay the Sanctuary fee to use those pools - they are not huge, but do have a resistance machine which makes a good workout in a short time.

Aft pools on Princess are usually less crowded and a beautiful way to spend an afternoon.

I never met a pool I didn't like!

The only two Princess ships that actually have a dedicated "Sanctuary Pool" are island and coral and yes you do have to pay for those, they are situated in the Sanctuary. The other Sanctuary's are usually close to the pool by the Lotus Spa and are free.

I have only been on one cruise and taking my 2nd this January on Epic. My TA the first one recommended we use the aft pool and not the midship because there is usually less people going aft and more kiddos and parents doing the midships. So, on my first cruise, we got our cabin just 50 feet down the corridor from the outside door leading onto the aft pools (Sapphire Princess) and of course perfect for the aft deck party! I was pleased with her recommendation and this Epic cruise, we are again Aft end cruising.

A few years back, we drained the pools nearly every day, cleaned them, and refilled them immediately.
Those were in the good old days when passengers followed the rules and instructions about showering before entering the pool.

Then we had our fuel price crisis, and had to come up with ways to reduce fuel consumption. It costs us about US$400 in fuel to produce enough fresh water to fill the average ship's swimming pool. As soon as that info was known to the bean counters, we had a new schedule for changing the water in the pools. Now we can wait for weeks to get the pool water changed. We keep dumping more and more bromine and chlorine into the pools for safety, only draining the water when you can no longer see the bottom.

At the same time, North Americans have stopped showering before swimming. All that deodorant, makeup, body lotions, perfumes, suntan lotion, fecal matter, urine, and god only knows what else, end up in that pool for many days.

A few years back, we drained the pools nearly every day, cleaned them, and refilled them immediately.
Those were in the good old days when passengers followed the rules and instructions about showering before entering the pool.

Then we had our fuel price crisis, and had to come up with ways to reduce fuel consumption. It costs us about US$400 in fuel to produce enough fresh water to fill the average ship's swimming pool. As soon as that info was known to the bean counters, we had a new schedule for changing the water in the pools. Now we can wait for weeks to get the pool water changed. We keep dumping more and more bromine and chlorine into the pools for safety, only draining the water when you can no longer see the bottom.

At the same time, North Americans have stopped showering before swimming. All that deodorant, makeup, body lotions, perfumes, suntan lotion, fecal matter, urine, and god only knows what else, end up in that pool for many days.

I will not even get close to one of those bacteria soup basins.

It's a pet peeve of mine and I agree 100%. I do shower before getting in he pool on the ship and I have to say I'm usually the ONLY ONE who does. Since I am aware of the problem I always note how many others do it and on a rare occasion I'll see one other. On average on a 7-day cruise I'll see two people shower b4 entering the pool.

As a pool owner it amazes me to watch a guest 'lather' up in all kinds of sun product and then immediately jump in the pool. What's the point?

To each his own but after 40 + cruises I have yet to get in a pool and if I did it would only because I accidentally fell into one.
Bruce, in my mind, is fairly accurate as to what the pools are so I tend to stay away. I can swim in a pool at home and not have to worry about it being
used by several thousands of people in the last couple of weeks , regardless of where they're from.
But as I said, to each his / her own thing.

I looked into the hot tubs on our last cruise and they were lotion soup. No thanks.

I grew up swimming in a spring fed pool (seriously - it has a little stream feeding it and a couple of springs at the bottom. So the idea of showering often evades me. I know cruisers are notorious for ignoring posted signs and comments in printed materials. But I don't think I have ever seen anything like "Shower before Swimming" posted around a ship pool.

I hate the non showering dummies as well...but on the use we used the aft adults only areas in the evenings and found them pretty much empty allowing me and the DW to enjoy the hot tubs with just me and her most nights, except one where as my kids would say a "creeper" climbed right in, was maybe 18, seemed intoxicated and was carrying one of those fancy drinks, asked DW if she was with me...then asked if she was into multiple men...we got out and left...but that can and will happen anyplace with the abundance of alcohol...we went back the next night saw him bothering some other couple, we ate some pizza and waited until they got upset and had security called then we went into the other Hot tub....I will also say to the poster who said that the water was fresh water in the pools on the conquest mybe it is me or something but it seemed like salt water in the aft pool when I did try it out...